Amidst the vast sea of clouds, no one could have imagined a floating island existed here.
This surpassed human capability; the name Shu Mountain Sacred Land was indeed well-deserved.
Upon the expansive mountain peak sat dozens of palaces, constantly emitting faint white lights, resembling an immortal realm.
From the mountaintop, a divine spring gurgled down, disappearing into the clouds, its source unseen.
Cranes and flying swords accompanied them; most were reincarnated immortals appearing as young children. The Shu Mountain Sacred Land was currently bustling with many people.
Flying swords filled the sky, igniting a fervent passion. Was this the way of immortality?
Chen Jiuyang's expression was calm. Ye Tiannan said, "Brother Chen, please follow me to meet the Sword Emperor."
Chen Jiuyang raised an eyebrow. "In this world, are there still Emperor Realm powerhouses?"
Below Emperor Realm was "Jing" (realm); at Emperor Realm, it was "Dao."
Ye Tiannan chuckled bitterly. "This is a Sacred Land. Even if you weren't an Emperor Realm powerhouse, upon becoming its master, you would become one."
Chen Jiuyang's eyelids twitched. "As expected of a Sacred Land, it has broadened my horizons."
In the current world, Grandmasters of the Earth Realm were the mainstream; most people could never reach the Heaven Realm in their lifetime.
As for the Venerable Realm, such ancestors were only found in the secret realms of major powers.
To think that a Sacred Land housed an Emperor Realm powerhouse.
Who said the Dragon Country's cultivation world was weak?
It only lacked the release of national destiny.
Once national destiny ascended, the Dragon Country's cultivation world would undergo a seismic shift.
Chen Jiuyang followed Ye Tiannan to a massive palace. This palace was ancient and grand, exuding a sacred yet formidable aura.
A stone tablet stood before it. Seated at the palace entrance was a white-haired old man as unmoving as a rock, clad in ancient, ornate robes, his presence awe-inspiring and unfathomable, like an immortal.
He was the ruler of the Shu Mountain Sacred Land, the current Shu Mountain Sword Emperor.
Ye Tiannan respectfully cupped his fists. "Holy Lord, Chen Jiuyang, a descendant of the Chen family of Shu Mountain, has arrived."
The Sword Emperor's ancient eyes opened, as if traversing the river of time, seeing through Chen Jiuyang completely, leaving no secret hidden. After a long moment, he nodded slightly:
"Pure Yang's descendant, excellent."
"You have come for techniques, divine artifacts, or cultivation?"
Chen Jiuyang pondered for a moment and asked, "Holy Lord, in your opinion, what should I seek now?"
A hint of surprise flickered in the Sword Emperor's eyes, which were ancient like stars. His tone was gentle:
"You are quite astute."
"You forge your own martial path, no need to rely on others' techniques. Since you have the 'Yan Sheng' Dao, you don't need Shu Mountain's spiritual swords. Your physical body is top-tier among peers; you only need to enhance your cultivation."
"Thus, you may enter the Sword Washing Pool to improve your cultivation."
"Thank you, Holy Lord." Chen Jiuyang cupped his fists in gratitude.
"Go." The Sword Emperor waved his hand gently. The grand palace behind him revealed a path. "How much you can improve depends on how long you can endure."
"Yes, Holy Lord." Chen Jiuyang bowed again and walked into the palace.
Ye Tiannan then departed; his task was only to bring Chen Jiuyang to Shu Mountain and meet the Sword Emperor.
After Chen Jiuyang entered the palace, the aged Sword Emperor narrowed his eyes, deep in thought. "There truly is the aura of Pure Yang on him. Could it be that Pure Yang did not ascend to the immortal realm but was reincarnated?"
"But if he was reincarnated, why not follow the immortal path, but this逆法 (reverse path)?"
Following immortality, defying the martial.
The martial path is to defy heaven.
"If Pure Yang has reincarnated, then when the great tribulation arrives, with one tribulation-transcending immortal, our human race will have another reliance."
The Sword Emperor muttered to himself, then slowly closed his eyes, falling into slumber.
Chen Jiuyang entered the palace, and an ancient, majestic, mysterious, and vast aura washed over him.
This palace had existed for countless years.
As he stepped into the palace, a pleasant female voice sounded, "Pure Yang's descendant, Chen Jiuyang?"
"Indeed." Chen Jiuyang cupped his fists. "May I ask which senior is speaking?"
"I am the spirit of the Life-Protecting Sword. Undress and enter the pool to receive the sword pool's baptism."
Chen Jiuyang looked at a dark stone pool before him, covered in ancient sword marks, filled with liquid that carried the aura of heavenly tribulations.
Chen Jiuyang's expression trembled. "Tribulation Liquid!!!"
The Immortal Doctor's inheritance recorded that even a trace of Tribulation Liquid, if refined into a pill, could revive even an immortal.
However, since the great cataclysm, despite heavenly tribulations, there had been no Tribulation Liquid.
Tribulation Liquid was the sole essence of the Heavenly Dao descended upon the world.
Even the Pure Yang Immortal Doctor, who had lived for an immeasurable time, had never obtained a single drop of Tribulation Liquid.
Yet here, Chen Jiuyang saw a pool brimming with immeasurable amounts of Tribulation Liquid.
Were the sword cultivators of the Shu Mountain Sacred Land this formidable?
Chen Jiuyang swallowed, showing a rare moment of失态 (losing composure) when faced with such a treasure.
The Life-Protecting Sword Spirit's pleasant voice sounded again. "Pure Yang's descendant, enter the pool with confidence. I am in the pool and can protect your life."
"Yes... Senior..."
Chen Jiuyang regained his senses, removed his clothes, and stepped naked into the pool. Instantly.
"Zzzzzzt!"
The terrifying power of heavenly tribulations surged into his body, causing him to tremble as if electrocuted.
The tribulation power washed over his body, gnawing and destroying every part within him.
"Ah!"
Chen Jiuyang could not help but cry out.
After his cry, Chen Jiuyang discovered that where the tribulation power had passed, a new force rapidly repaired his body.
Faintly...
His cultivation had improved!
"This speed..."
Chen Jiuyang's heart was startled. "A trace of Tribulation Liquid that had washed over his body entered him."
The Life-Protecting Sword Spirit said, "Refine the Tribulation Liquid and enhance your cultivation."
The tribulation power destroyed his previous physical body but then rapidly repaired it, equivalent to transforming his physique and clearing the bottlenecks on his path of cultivation!
Then, refining the Tribulation Liquid would enhance his cultivation without any hindrance or side effects.
"Yes."
Chen Jiuyang immediately sensed the various benefits and quickly sat cross-legged in the pool. Chen Jiuyang circulated his Yuan Dao cultivation technique, beginning to refine the Tribulation Liquid to boost his cultivation.
Since comprehending the Yuan Dao, Chen Jiuyang had rarely circulated his cultivation technique, as the Yan Sheng Blade would absorb the opponent's life source after killing, passively advancing Chen Jiuyang's cultivation.
Ordinary medicinal herbs could not satisfy Chen Jiuyang's demand for martial cultivation advancement.
"Zzzzzzt!"
Lightning arcs flickered across Chen Jiuyang's skin, his aura slowly growing.
Heaven Realm cultivation was divided into nine layers, with a bottleneck at each layer.
Earth Realm possessed divine intent; Heaven Realm possessed divine might or divine abilities. Cultivators possessed spells.
Those with divine might like a prison and cultivators both enhanced their soul's power in the Heaven Realm.
Those on the path of invincible divine abilities exchanged blood, strengthening their physical bodies to make their martial divine abilities and moves more powerful.
These three paths all led to greater power, converging towards the same goal.
During the process of improving his cultivation, Chen Jiuyang's mind grew calmer.
He discovered that his true blood, true essence, and even his physical body had been imbued with traces of the tribulation's essence.
Could he use this to create and develop new martial divine abilities and moves?
Heavenly tribulations...
How terrifying was their power!?